Renzo Gracie

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Renzo Gracie
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [a]
Years active1992–2018
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins14
By knockout2
By submission8
By decision3
By disqualification1
Losses7
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision4
Draws1
No contests1
Other information
SpouseCristina Gracie
Children3
Notable relatives
Websitehttps://renzogracie.com/
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Submission Wrestling
ADCC World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2000 Abu Dhabi -77kg
Gold medal – first place 1998 Abu Dhabi 77kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Copa Atlântico Sul Championship
Gold medal – first place 1988
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gold medal – first place 1989
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gold medal – first place 1990
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gold medal – first place 1991
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gold medal – first place 1994
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Renzo Gracie (Portuguese:

Helio Gracie, nephew of Carlos Gracie Jr. and the son of Robson Gracie
.

By the age of 20, Gracie was a multiple-time BJJ champion in Brazil. In mixed martial arts, Renzo has competed in the

RINGS, and International Fight League (head-coaching the New York Pitbulls). Gracie is crediting with training some of the best fighters in North America such as: Georges St-Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Chris Weidman, Matt Serra, Ricardo Almeida, Roy Nelson, Rodrigo Gracie and Paul Creighton. Gracie is also known to have trained Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates
.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts over a ten-year period, showing the origins of the sport from its bare knuckle days to the explosion of the sport in both Japan and America. In honor of his achievements and contributions to the sport, Gracie was inducted into the ADCC Hall of Fame on February 21, 2022.[2] On January 18, 2023, Gracie was presented with his coral belt in Abu Dhabi by Rickson Gracie.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Renzo debuted in the Brazilian

kickboxer Luiz Augusto Alvareda, whom submitted by rear naked choke. After the match, he moved to the United States to teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu
.

World Combat Championships

In October 1995, Gracie was called to fight in World Combat Championships, a no holds barred event created by

neck crank in similar time.[6]

Gracie had originally entered WCC with the idea of fighting Bart Vale, who would compete as well, as Vale had boasted that smaller opponents like Renzo were afraid of facing him. However, Vale would forfeit his place in the tournament after his first match, so the bout didn't happen.[6] Producer Peters had the intention to host a second event where Gracie and Vale would fight in a "superfight" format, but these plans were abandoned.[6]

Pentagon Combat

Renzo Gracie (on the ground with white trunks) fights Eugenio Tadeu at Pentagon Combat

On September 22, 1997, Gracie partook in Pentagon Combat, an MMA event founded by future

luta livre, was in a huge rivalry with Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the time, which guaranteed the match was received with heat. Promoters of the event hired little security for the match, and although the luta livre supporters got fewer tickets than their jiu-jitsu homologues, they snuck into the arena earlier in the event.[7] The first minutes of the match were uneventful, with Gracie claiming years later that Tadeu had greased up his body to difficult his grip, but he eventually managed to mount Tadeu.[8] However, Gracie got tired, and Tadeu started to take control of the action.[7]

When the fight became stalled against the cage wall, audience members pushed their way through security staff and grabbed the very cage, screaming insults at the fighters and even attacking them through the netting whenever they came near. Some spectators climbed up the fence while others pulled them down, leading the match to be briefly stopped to clear them out,[9] while Gracie received both punches and kicks by luta livre supporters without the referee noticing.[7][8] The situation finally exploded when Gracie fought back one of his attackers, causing a massive brawl to erupt among the over 400 spectators. Audience members threw chairs and seats to each other, the lights were turned off, and gunshots were heard.[7] The event caused mixed martial arts to be banned in Rio de Janeiro for ten years.[7]

Pride Fighting Championships

Gracie debuted in the first event of

omoplatas
, all while receiving only superficial damage from kicks and knees, but he failed at finishing Shoji, and thus the match went to a draw after thirty minutes.

His first victory in Pride was at the very next event,

clinch and Renzo's guard. Only in the sixth round, Renzo managed to lock a guillotine choke and submit Kikuta.[10] In 2014, Gracie claimed to have been drugged by PRIDE promoters before the fight to explain his performance.[11]

Gracie returned in Pride 8, where he fought

German suplex-like takedown, the match ended with both Otsuka and Gracie pursuing a submission each.[12]

Fighting Network Rings

Gracie discontinued his appearances in PRIDE to participate in the King of Kings tournament of rival promotion

Maurice Smith, Gracie achieved the same result, taking him down before submitting him with a judo-style yoko-sankaku-jime/ude-gatame combination.[13]

The Brazilian reached the quarterfinals, where he encountered another Rings

ground and pound on Renzo. At the second, the wrestler started passing Gracie's guard and capturing his back, to the extent of locking a facedown crucifix and searching for a rear naked choke. Although Gracie managed to escape without being submitted, the unanimous decision was given to Tamura, thus eliminating the Brazilian.[14]

Return to Pride

Gracie returned to Pride to fight

Kimura lock, dislocating his arm before hitting the mat and prompting the referee to stop the fight.[15] Uncharacteristically for the Gracie side during their rivalry with Sakuraba, Renzo took the mic after the match and declared Sakuraba was the better man. Similarly, years later Gracie called Sakuraba "his hero" and remembered their match as "one of the biggest lessons he learned in his life".[16][17]

Gracie next fought American wrestler Dan Henderson at Pride 13, now under new rules that allowed knees and kicks to the head of a downed opponent.[18] The resultant match was short, as Henderson used his wrestling superiority to keep the fight on their feet and land punches and knees as per the new ruleset. After one minute, Gracie tried a takedown, but Henderson landed two heavy punches and knocked him out. The American became the first fighter ever to knock out a Gracie.[19] Renzo bounced back with a victory over professional wrestler Michiyoshi Ohara, who resorted to clinch defensively for most of the match.[20]

In 2002, Gracie fought against Shungo Oyama in Pride 21. Oyama taunted Renzo incessantly through the match and imitated Sakuraba's offensive moves, getting some measure of success with it. Renzo became so irritated that he spat on Oyama at the end of the second round. At the third, Gracie looked to re-take the bout, but they just could exchange takedowns and strikes before the match went to the judges, with Oyama winning a unanimous decision.[21] Gracie was unhappy with this, and stated to believe he had lost the decision only because he spat on Oyama.[11]

His last match for Pride would be in October 2003 against eclectic grappler

side mount. At the second, Renzo received a slamming takedown and a hip throw, so he opted to grab a guillotine choke and pull guard, seeking the finish, yet Newton freed himself and ended the match again with punches from half guard. Newton was given the split decision win,[22] which Gracie disputed.[17]

IFL and EliteXC

Gracie debuted for International Fight League in September 2006, submitting Pat Miletich in three minutes with a guillotine choke. He would then rematch Carlos Newton in December. The match was noted to resemble oddly their first encounter, as they struggled for position in the first round with Gracie threatening a submission and Newton ending it in side mount. The situation reversed at the second, as Gracie flipped Newton over to side mount, only for Newton to menace him with an ankle lock. At the third and final round, Newton worked to keep the fight standing and made Gracie bleed with some glaring strikes, but the fight ended without a result, and after deliberation, the judges gave it to Gracie. This outcome was immediately met with controversy, with Gracie himself declaring he felt Newton was the winner.[23]

On February 10, 2007, Gracie won a match by disqualification against former

EliteXC on its debut night Saturday February 10, 2007, on Showtime. Gracie was able to take Frank down and keep the fight on the ground, until Shamrock was disqualified by referee Herb Dean
for landing illegal knee strikes to the back of Gracie's head. Shamrock had already been given one warning earlier in the match for illegal strikes to the back of Gracie's head. After the match, Gracie had to be helped out of the ring and back to his dressing room by his team allegedly due to receiving a concussion from the strikes.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Returning from a three-year hiatus, Gracie signed a six-fight contract with the UFC in December 2009 and faced former

UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes on April 10, 2010, at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[24] Although Gracie fared reasonably well against the American, he began to take more and more leg kicks, and by the end of the second round, the fight began to look more and more to Hughes's favor. The third round saw Hughes score with a series of uppercuts and hooks that hurt Gracie. Hughes finished Gracie with a series of punches.[25] Gracie lost to Hughes by TKO at 4:40 of round 3, becoming the second Gracie to fall victim to Matt Hughes, the other was his famous cousin Royce Gracie at UFC 60
.

ONE Championship

On June 7, 2018, ONE Championship's president Chatri Sityodtong announced that Renzo Gracie had been enticed from retirement and was scheduled to face Yuki Kondo at One Championship Reign of Kings on July 27, marking Gracie's first fight since his loss to Matt Hughes in 2010.[26] He won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Other ventures

Renzo formerly coached a team, the New York Pitbulls, for the International Fight League.

Gracie is the head instructor at the Renzo Gracie Academy in midtown Manhattan. Many well-known BJJ and MMA fighters have been trained by Renzo, including BJJ black belts

UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman
.

Gracie has co-written two instructional books on jiu-jitsu; "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique"

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, since 1993.[29]

Submission grappling career

On November 22, 2014, Renzo fought Kazushi Sakuraba in a grappling match in Metamoris V. The fight ended in a draw.[30]

Documentary

Gracie is the subject of a 2008 documentary, Renzo Gracie: Legacy.[31]

Personal life

Gracie is a resident of Holmdel Township, New Jersey. He and his wife Cristina have three children.[32] He has eleven brothers and sisters, including Charles Gracie, Flavia Gracie (Kyra Gracie's mother), Carla Gracie (Neiman Gracie's mother), Ralph Gracie and the late Ryan Gracie.[33][34] In early 2022, Renzo released his biography, written by Brazilian former Special Culture Secretary and theatre director Roberto Alvim.[35][36]

Ambassador of International Tourism

A supporter President Bolsonaro of Brazil, Gracie became in August 2019 Ambassador of International Tourism for Embratur, a branch of the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism.[37] In September 2019, in his new ambassador role, and after President Macron of France called the wildfires an "international crisis," Gracie threatened in a video to choke the French President, calling him a clown and insulting his wife.[38] Gracie declared the Amazon rainforest wildfires to be "false fires".[39][40]

Public image

In May 2014, Gracie was arrested at 1OAK in

bouncer to the hospital.[41] Gracie maintained that he took down the bouncer and mounted him, but did not punch him.[42] Gracie's cousin, Igor was arrested together with 5 other people in the incident.[43]

In 2017 Gracie took part in a BJJ seminar in Chechnya at a gym owned by dictator Ramzan Kadyrov, Gracie appeared during that time on local TV to promote Kadyrov's government.[44]

In September 2022, footage emerged of Gracie being involved in an altercation with a stranger in the New York City Subway. Gracie alleged that the man had approached him making racist remarks.[45]

Instructor lineage

Helio Gracie → Rolls GracieCarlos Gracie Jr.
→ Renzo Gracie

Championships and accomplishments

Submission grappling

Brazilian jiu-jitsu

  • Copa Atlântico Sul Champion (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994)

Mixed martial arts

  • World Combat Championships
    • World Combat Championships 1 tournament winner

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches 14 wins 7 losses
By knockout 2 2
By submission 8 1
By decision 3 4
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 1
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 14–7–1 (1) Yuki Kondo Submission (rear-naked choke) ONE: Reign of Kings July 27, 2018 2 1:40 Pasay, Philippines
Loss 13–7–1 (1) Matt Hughes TKO (punches) UFC 112 April 10, 2010 3 4:40 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 13–6–1 (1) Frank Shamrock DQ (knees to downed opponent) EliteXC: Destiny February 10, 2007 2 2:00 Southaven, Mississippi, United States
Win 12–6–1 (1) Carlos Newton Decision (split) IFL: World Team Championships December 29, 2006 3 4:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 11–6–1 (1) Pat Miletich Submission (guillotine choke) IFL: Gracie vs. Miletich September 23, 2006 1 3:37 Moline, Illinois, United States
Loss 10–6–1 (1) B.J. Penn Decision (unanimous)
K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hawaii
July 29, 2005 3 5:00
Honolulu, Hawaii
, United States
Loss 10–5–1 (1) Carlos Newton Decision (split)
Pride Bushido 1
October 5, 2003 2 5:00
Saitama
, Japan
Loss 10–4–1 (1) Shungo Oyama Decision (unanimous)
Pride 21
June 23, 2002 3 5:00
Saitama
, Japan
Win 10–3–1 (1) Michiyoshi Ohara Decision (unanimous)
Pride 17
November 3, 2001 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 9–3–1 (1) Dan Henderson KO (punch) Pride 13 - Collision Course March 25, 2001 1 1:40
Saitama
, Japan
Loss 9–2–1 (1) Kazushi Sakuraba Technical Submission (kimura) Pride 10 - Return of the Warriors August 27, 2000 2 9:43
Saitama
, Japan
Loss 9–1–1 (1) Kiyoshi Tamura Decision (unanimous) Rings: King of Kings 1999 Final February 26, 2000 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9–0–1 (1)
Maurice Smith
Submission (straight armbar)
Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B
December 22, 1999 1 0:50 Osaka, Japan
Win 8–0–1 (1) Wataru Sakata Submission (armbar) 1 1:25
Win 7–0–1 (1) Alexander Otsuka Decision (unanimous) Pride 8 November 21, 1999 2 10:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6–0–1 (1) Sanae Kikuta Submission (guillotine choke)
Pride 2
March 15, 1998 6 0:43 Yokohama, Japan
Draw 5–0–1 (1) Akira Shoji Draw (time limit)
Pride 1
October 11, 1997 3 10:00 Tokyo, Japan
NC 5–0 (1) Eugenio Tadeu No contest (fans rioted) Pentagon Combat September 27, 1997 1 14:45 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 5–0 Oleg Taktarov KO (upkick) Martial Arts Reality Superfighting November 22, 1996 1 1:02 Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Win 4–0 James Warring Submission (choke) WCC 1: First Strike October 17, 1995 1 2:47 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Win 3–0 Phil Benedict TKO (submission to strikes) 1 2:08
Win 2–0 Ben Spijkers Submission (choke) 1 2:38
Win 1–0 Luiz Augusto Alvareda Submission (rear-naked choke) Desafio: Gracie Vale Tudo January 1, 1992 1 7:03 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Grappling record

19 Matches, 11 Wins (3 Submissions), 7 Losses, 1 Draw
Result Rec. Opponent Method Event Division Date Location
Draw 11–7–1 Japan Kazushi Sakuraba Draw Metamoris V Superfight November 22, 2014 United States Los Angeles, CA
Loss 11–7
Mario Sperry
Points ADCC 2011 Superfight September 25, 2011 United Kingdom Nottingham
Loss 11–6 United States Mike Fowler Points ADCC 2007 –77 kg May 4, 2007 United States Trenton, NJ
Loss 11–5 Brazil Pablo Popovitch Points ADCC 2005 –77 kg 2005
Long Beach, CA
Loss 11–4 Brazil Marcelo García Points ADCC 2003 –77 kg May 17, 2003 Brazil São Paulo
Win 11–3 Australia George Sotiropoulos Points
Loss 10–3 Australia Cris Brown Advantage ADCC 2001 –88 kg 2001 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi
Win 10–2 Brazil Jean Jacques Machado Advantage ADCC 2000 –77 kg 2000 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi
Win 9–2 Brazil Marcio Feitosa Submission (guillotine choke)
Win 8–2 Brazil Israel Albuquerque Points
Win 7–2 United States Dennis Hallman Points
Loss 6–2 Japan Egan Inoue Points ADCC 1999 –99 kg 1999 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi
Win 6–1 China Fan Yi Submission (verbal)
Win 5–1 Brazil Luis Brito Submission (guillotine choke) ADCC 1998 –77 kg 1998 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi
Win 4–1 Brazil Fabiano Iha Points
Win 3–1 Brazil Rodrigo Medeiros Points
Win 2–1 United States Frank Trigg Decision
Loss 1–1 Brazil Wallid Ismail decision Desafio WxR Superfight 1993 Brazil Rio de Janeiro
Win 1–0 Brazil Ricardo de la Riva Advantage Campeonato Brasileiro Superfight 1993 Brazil Rio de Janeiro

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Renzo Gracie receiving his coral belt". Instagram.
  2. ^ "Renzo Becomes Fourth Gracie Included in ADCC Hall of Fame". February 22, 2022.
  3. ^ Smith, Chase (January 18, 2023). "Renzo Gracie Receives Coral Belt From Rickson Gracie". www.flograppling.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Grant, T. P. (April 4, 2014). "MMA Origins: World Combat Championships". Bloody Elbow.
  5. ^ "Poor Sportsmanship Display of the Day: Renzo Gracie vs. Ben Spijkers - Cage Potato". August 28, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e Jim Coleman, World Combat - We're here, deal with it!, Black Belt Magazine, February 1997
  7. ^ a b c d e Cruz, Guilherme (September 29, 2013). "The riot that got MMA banned in Rio de Janeiro". MMA Fighting.
  8. ^ a b "The riot over Renzo Gracie vs Eugenio Tadeu". Bloody Elbow. March 8, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Renzo Gracie vs. Eugenio Tadeu and the Show Ending Riot". Bloody Elbow. August 23, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  10. ^ Scott Newman (September 7, 2013). "MMA Review: #409: PRIDE 2". The Oratory. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Guilherme Cruz (September 30, 2014). "Renzo Gracie says PRIDE promoters sabotaged him before Sanae Kikuta fight". MMA Fighting. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  12. ^ Scott Newman (March 24, 2013). "MMA Review: #438: PRIDE 8 review". The Oratory. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  13. ^ Renzo Gracie, John Danaher, Mastering Jujitsu, Human Kinetics, 2003
  14. ^ Stephen Quadros, Henderson Wins, Gracie Loses in RINGS Tourney, Black Belt magazine, July 2000
  15. ^ Scott Newman (November 30, 2006). "Pride 10: Return Of The Warriors review". Sports Oratory. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  16. ^ C.J. Tuttle (November 23, 2014). "Renzo Gracie: 'Sakuraba is a hero to me'". Sherdog. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Dave Meltzer (August 30, 2015). "Renzo Gracie reflects on the Kazushi Sakuraba fight, life-changing move to New York". MMA Fighting. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  18. Black Belt magazine
    , July 2001
  19. ^ Scott Newman (May 31, 2004). "MMA Review: #15: Pride 13: Collision Course". The Oratory. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  20. ^ Keith Vargo, Sperry, Silva, Nogueira and Gracie Win at Pride 17, Black Belt magazine, March 2002
  21. ^ Scott Newman (December 27, 2004). "MMA Review: #36: PRIDE 21: Revolution". The Oratory. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  22. ^ Scott Newman (January 5, 2005). "MMA Review: #39: PRIDE Bushido Vol. 1". The Oratory. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  23. ^ "– IFL "WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP" FULL REVIEW & PHOTOS | MMAWeekly.com". December 30, 2006.
  24. ^ "UFC to make history in Abu Dhabi at UFC 112". ufc.com. January 27, 2010. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010.
  25. ^ "UFC 112 Results: Matt Hughes Beats Up Renzo Gracie". April 10, 2010.
  26. ^ Guilherme Cruz (June 7, 2018). "ONE Championship books Renzo Gracie's return for July, interim bantamweight title fight". mmafighting.com.
  27. .
  28. .
  29. ^ "Professional fighter gets royal treatment as prince's trainer". ESPN by Ryan Hockensmith. 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2007.
  30. ^ Blackett, Todd (October 25, 2023). "Throwback: Renzo Gracie And Kazushi Sakuraba Rematch At Metamoris 5". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  31. ^ Holland, Jesse (October 16, 2008). "'Renzo Gracie: Legacy' to premiere at the inaugural U.S. Sports Film Festival on October 25". MMAmania.com.
  32. Daily News (New York), February 27, 2008. Accessed March 15, 2011. "Gracie, 40, of Holmden [sic
    ], N.J., is a world-class mixed martial arts competitor who has spent his life preaching and practicing Brazilian (a.k.a. Gracie) jujitsu: a judo-based martial art that his grandfather devised."
  33. ^ Gracie Family Tree Archived September 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine URL accessed on June 5, 2009
  34. ^ Charles Gracie Family Tree URL accessed on June 5, 2009 Archived April 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ Demitido por apologia ao nazismo, ex-secretário de Cultura Roberto Alvim lança livro sobre Renzo Gracie (in Portuguese), February 11, 2022, retrieved March 24, 2022
  36. ^ Demitido por apologia ao nazismo, Alvim lança livro sobre Renzo Gracie (in Portuguese), February 8, 2022, retrieved March 24, 2022
  37. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  38. ^ BJJEE (September 2, 2019). "New Brazilian Ambassador Of Tourism Renzo Gracie Threatens French President Macron". Bjj Eastern Europe. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  39. ^ Embury-Dennis, Tom (September 2, 2019). "Bolsonaro ambassador threatens to choke Macron and insults wife Brigitte amid Amazon fires row". The Independent. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  40. ^ Bolsonaro ambassador threatens to choke Macron and insults wife Brigitte amid Amazon fires row: Renzo Gracie launches homophobic and misogynistic attack against France's president and first lady The Independent, Tom Embury-Dennis, September 2, 2019
  41. ^ Guilherme Cruz (May 27, 2014). "Renzo Gracie breaks silence on alleged nightclub brawl". MMA Fighting.
  42. ^ Fox Sports. "Renzo Gracie: I didn't punch club bouncer, because he 'chickened out'". FOX Sports.
  43. ^ Fox Sports. "Renzo Gracie, cousin Igor arrested, charged with gang assault after nightclub incident". FOX Sports.
  44. ^ Zidan, Karim (December 16, 2020). "How U.S. sanctions will impact Ramzan Kadyrov's MMA aspirations". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  45. ^ "Watch Renzo Gracie Get into New York Subway Altercation". September 7, 2022.
  46. ^ "ADCC Results". Official 1998 ADCC results. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  47. ^ "ADCC Results". Official 2000 ADCC results. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.

External links